Brody Mullins: The FishbowlDC Interview
Say hello to the Wall Street Journal’s Brody Mullins, who had a rather big night last night.
How many suits do you own? more than a dozen. One of my parents’ neighbors gives me all his old suits. I probably have a half-dozen pinstriped Brooks Brothers suits from the 70s and 80s, including a light-blue pinstriped seersucker that would make a Southern senator proud. How many do I wear? Two or three.
What word do you routinely misspell? I used to misspell “tomorrow.” but a few years ago I started using “tomorrow” as the password for my computer, believing that if I type it every day I would learn to spell it correctly. Then one day I was on the road on a story and needed some information off my desktop. So I called my editor, asked him go on my computer and gave him my password. It was akward. When I returned, I changed my password to “carpediem.”
Did you see Brokeback Mountain? rented it in a hotel. fell asleep.
Did you see The Da Vinci Code? rented it in a hotel. fell asleep.
What’s the name of your cell phone ring? I like vibrate. but I have a new phone and haven’t change it yet. in the meantime I have a terribly embarrassing ring tone.
What time did you get up this morning? 8ish
When did you last cry and why? When I read a front page Wall Street Journal story by Evan Perez about one family’s ordeal during the hurricane flooding in New Orleans. I was on an airplane by myself. Middle seat. Tears flowing down my cheeks. Picture this: A grown man crying while reading the Wall Street Journal on an airplane.
Which of the seven deadly sins are you? Gluttony/Hubris
Beach, city or country? Beach
Would you say you’re cute? Pretty? Hot? Beautiful? I have a great personality
What color is your bathroom? I didn’t know it had a color. white?
How many emails do you receive a day, roughly? 200
What’s your opinion of New York City? love-hate
What’s your favorite letter? Always a been a fan of M.
What single person played the biggest role / had the biggest influence on your journalism career? No single person. Dozens. From the old generation such as Johnny Apple, Teddy White, Scotty Reston, Johnny Bresnahan and Davy Rogers to the more modern reporters like Jim Vandehei, Glenn Simpson, Susan Schmidt, Tom Hamburger, Joshua Prager, Jonathon Eig. I’m also a fan of the “new new journalists,” such as Jon Krakauer, Michael Lewis, Richard Ben Cramer, Mark Bowden.
Have you ever downloaded a podcast? If so, which one? no
Who’s your all-time favorite American Idol candidate? don’t watch.
When’s the last time you volunteered? Where? I refuse to answer this question on the basis that it would prove to be embarrassing to me.
Who is your favorite active journalist? William Langewiesche
What did you have for breakfast? yogurt
What’s your favorite item of clothing? My new favorite is my #11 Denny Hamlin hat. Go one-one.
What one toiletry item could you not live without? nose-hair trimmer.
If you could have one superpower, which one would it be? The “pause” button on life. I press pause. Everyone stops but me.
Better role model: GIJoe? Barbie? Brody-Jovi
